The Player Piano Group
We actively encourage the exploration of the vast musical repertoires and personal musical expression via means of the player piano. Playing this instrument remains as unique an interactive music-making experience as it did a century ago - there is still no modern equivalent. Join us and discover a whole new entirely novel musical experience! In 2009 our Group celebrates its 50th anniversary and today we continue as strongly as ever. We welcome new members from all over the world. The Player Piano Group was founded in 1959 by Frank Holland, who also founded the Musical Museum, to bring together all those interested in these instruments.
The group publishes a printed bulletin four times a year and encourages contact between members by additionally publishing an annual membership list and supporting an online open forum, social networking web presence and video media sharing experiences. Regular social meetings, where instruments are displayed, played and admired give opportunities for meeting others of similar interests, enjoying music or a good old fashioned sing-a-long and (where would we be without it) the great hospitality of the events host. The group has also arranged public concerts at London's South Bank Centre and other venues covering music from classical to modern and also runs a regular postal music roll auction in addition to providing information about sources of music rolls, both new and old, suppliers of restoration materials, professional restorers, museums, and many other topics.
The player piano was introduced around 1900 and produced in large numbers until the 1930s. The player piano is both a musical instrument and a machine. The mechanical mechanism plays the piano by means of a perforated roll of paper. Many of these fascinating and complicated instruments are still in existence, from the earliest type, namely the 'piano players' that were a mechanical mechanism in a cabinet which could play any ordinary piano, to the most sophisticated of the genre.
The musical and mechanical aspects of the instrument are reflected by the range of the group's interests. Most members inevitably combine musical and technical interests to some degree. By bringing together those interested in them, more specialist topics such as player organs, roll copying and manufacture, and player piano history, are facilitated. Additional activities encompass encouraging live musical performance, techniques of playing the pedal player piano, instrument restoration and repair techniques, use of appropriate materials and effective calibration.
If you have an interest in mechanical music, why not join the Player Piano Group? Our members are truly representative of people from all walks-of-life and our love of music making is our common ground. You may have inherited or purchased a pianola and wish to know more about it. You may possess a large collection of instruments. You may not have any instrument at all, but simply an interest in music. The group welcomes all of you.
We especially welcome owners of modern-era instruments such as Disklaviers or electronic keyboards. Additionally we equally extend a warm welcome to all musicians professional and amateur, music programmers, students and teachers together with those interested in technology and also interactive music making - you'll find we have a lot in common and much to share!
For further details of the benefits of membership see the Join Us page or E-MAIL membership@pianolasociety.com. A full list of our officers may be found here